There are several markers for him in Milford, Connecticut (transcribed DEC 1999). One, on the town square, reads "Robert Treat; Born 1622, died 1710; A founder of Milford; Served the colony of Connecticut for 32 years; Deputy Governor 1678-1683; Governor 1683-1698; Deputy Governor 1698-1708; Led a company to New Jersey and founded Newark 1665-1672; Returned to Milford and commanded Connecticut troops in King Philips War. Governor when Sir Edmund Andros demanded charter which was not surrendered but was hidden in an oak tree."
The entrance to the Milford Cemetery (est. 1642) has a plaque reading "Governors: Robert Treat 1683-1698 ...."
His grave marker (cover) reads "Here lyeth interred the body of Coll Robert Treat Esq, Who faithfully servd (sic) this colony in the post of governour (sic) near ye space of thirty years and att (sic) ye age of four score and eight years changed this life for a better July 12 Anno Dom 1710"

Notes

Robert came to America, founded Newark, New Jersey and Milford, Connecticut. His leadership and role as negotiator facilitated the legal agreements related to the founding of the New Jersey colonies. Robert Treat and Jasper Crane went to New Amsterdam as early as 1661 to see Governor Peter Stuyvesant regarding a place of settlement but was initially thwarted in his efforts.
Captain Treat and others conferred with Governor Philip Cartaret and obtained a land grant from him. But, upon arriving at their chosen spot for the city, the Hackensack Indians refused to let them settle. The settlers returned to Elizabethtown Point, and Treat and others met again with Carteret who refused to pay the Hackensacks anything for the territory that was to be Newark. The settlers then chose to pay the Indians themselves for the land
The Indians agreed to sell in May of 1666 but the bill of sale was not signed until Jul 11, 1667. The original owners of the soil received goods valued at about $700.00 for the greater part of what is now Essex County, New Jersey.
He was Commander in Chief of the Connecticut forces from 1675 to 1676 during King Philip's War.
He became governor of Connecticut in 1683 until the "Charter Oak Affair" in November of 1687 when Governor Andros removed him from office and attempted to make Connecticut part of the Dominion of New England. The colonial charter was hidden in the hollow of an oak tree to prevent its being destroyed by Governor Andros and Treat resumed his post when the scheme failed in 1689.
Gov. Robert Treat was the maternal great-grandfather of a signer of the Declaration (July 4, 1776) -- Robert Treat Paine.
His descendants include Robert Treat Paine (1731-1814), a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Edison (1847-1931, American inventor.
To visit Milford Cemetery, where Gov. Treat and his wife Jane are buried, click here:http://mykindred.com/cloud/TX/MilfordCemeteryTrip

If this has been useful to you
please consider helping defray the costs.

$

Donate withPayPal

If this site has helped you, if you want to contribute, see an error or have a suggestion, drop us a note.· · · COMMERCIAL USE OF THE MATERIAL FROM THIS SITE IS PROHIBITED! · · ·
Please respect the time and effort of the many people who provide this information for you.
The information here is provided -- FOR FREE -- by family history researchers for family history researchers.KEEP GENEALOGY FREE and ACCESSIBLE!
PLEASE -- DO NOT -- REPUBLISH ANY OF THIS CONTENT TO A FOR-PROFIT OR SUBSCRIPTION-ONLY SITE.